Netflix: You’ll Never Guess What Brad Pitt Had To Agree To Film This Scene From Meet Joe Black

Released in 1998, Meeting Joe Black combines romance, reflection on death and absurd moments in a story that divides critics and audiences. Martin Brest, as a director, calls on Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins to play opposing figures: death and a man who is confronted with his finitude.

If the work is criticized for its slow and sometimes clumsy contrasts, it remains with memorable sequences, especially when Brad Pitt plays a young man – before he “becomes” Joe Black. For nearly 10 minutes before the crash, we witness a vivid encounter between Pete and Claire Forlan, who plays Anthony Hopkins’ daughter.

The charm of meeting in a cafe

It all starts in a cafe in New York. Brad Pitt’s character meets Claire Forlan’s character and they have instant chemistry. Serenity dominates this exchange: lingering gazes, charming hesitations, and subtle play of seduction.

Forlan plays a modern and independent woman who is interested in this man who is both clumsy and attractive. Pitt, on the other hand, plays a touch restrained. Their dialogues are simple but imbued with sincerity that captures the audience’s attention. The climax comes when, despite the palpable tension, they part ways, giving the place a sense of unfinished business.

As soon as Brad Pitt’s character leaves the cafe, the audience is in for an unexpected shock. As he walks down the street, lost in thought, he turns around one last time, hoping to see the young woman. This moment of inattention is fatal: he is hit by two cars on a stage as spectacular as the traffic.

A scene that became iconic years later

In 2019, the film returned to the fore on X (formerly Twitter), thanks to a clip showing an out-of-context Brady flirting with Claire before suddenly crashing into two cars at once and dying a gruesome and violent death.

The scene is impressive and the scene capture is not a simple digital effect. Martin Brest wanted realistic rendering and refused to rely on digital effects. Buddy Joe Hooker, stunt coordinator, and Robert Devine, special effects manager, created a complex system to bring the scene to life.

Hooker then tells him Vulture that “The director wanted a fixed shot, without cuts, where the shot should look as natural as possible.“Therefore, the team created an articulated model of Brad Pitt, molded from his body with flexible materials such as silicone.

Creating an almost human mannequin

Therefore, the film crew relied on an articulated mannequin that faithfully reproduced Brad Pitt’s body. This creation required meticulous work. Robert Devine describes the process in detail, explaining: “To avoid discomfort, we made her body, but not directly on her skin.“

For this, Pete wore a leotard and the team applied a layer of baby shampoo to act as a lubricant to prevent the plaster used for the mold from sticking to the fabric. Devine humorously says:I found myself putting Brad Pitt in baby shampoo and making sure the casting was accurate. He joked, “Nice ass, huh?” When I caressed her back.“Once casting was complete, an ultra-detailed mannequin was made, including movable joints, glass eyes and a wig that replicated her hair.

This mannequin was used for dozens of shots accurately rendered thanks to a sophisticated cable system. Robert Devine explains:We attached the mannequin to the cable connected to the motorized system. This allowed him to be thrown into the air when he was hit by a car.“The movement had to be precise so that the model didn’t jump out of the frame or look too mechanical.

When emotion takes over

Despite the impressive technical aspect at the time, it is Brad Pitt’s performance that cements the scene in the collective memory. Before the accident, his melancholy gaze and tender relationship with Claire Forlan accentuate the cruelty of the breakup.

This scene then becomes much more than a simple technical achievement. It captures the fragility of life and captures the essence of Meet Joe Black: an incredible mix of the absurd and the profound. A paradox that Brad Pitt manages to make unforgettable with his exquisite acting.

Meet Joe Black is now available on Netflix.